II was wondering about the scoring system used for test ranking. It seems that the home team has a huge advantage due to their ability to prepare a pitch that suits their strength and situation. A case can be made that in the 3rd test (between India and Pakistan) the pitch has been prepared to protect India's lead that was gained at Eden. If it is so, I am not necessarily suggesting that this is an unfair practice. But it should it not be somehow discouraged? For example, a draw forced upon not due to weather related reasons should count at least a little against the home side.

LateCut

March 26, 2005, 11:48 AM

I would specially like to hear from BaglaCricket gods.

Zunaid

March 26, 2005, 12:03 PM

Originally posted by LateCut
I would specially like to hear from BaglaCricket gods.

I hear my name being called and not in vain too. :)

More details of the ICC Test Ranking system can be found here (http://www.cricketratings.com/).

If you notice, they only take into account results and opponents' rankings to estimate the delta. Local conditions or home/away status do not seem to factor in. I suppose one could argue that in the global scheme of things, it is all a wash since arguably all teams prepare picthes to suit their strengths.

Ahmed_B

March 26, 2005, 12:36 PM

:)

well.. its a very much balanced situation really..
every team gets nearly equal number of home and away series(atleast according to ICC's FTP so far)so it wouldnt matter in ranking, even if it was counted..

LateCut

March 26, 2005, 07:45 PM

I suppose Zunaid is right that it ultimately washes out. But remeber at one stretch Sri Lanka could only win home matches. It seems that some how home win should be weighted differently. At aleast until the the two countries finished the home and away series.